Frosty

A family party of Pale-bellied Brent Geese - Mudbank.

Still very little to report but Mudbank counts today included 10 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 18 Teal, at least 3 Shoveler, 1 Black-tailed Godwit and a/the Cetti's Warbler.

I had a stroll round a frosty Orcombe Point, logging c100 Skylark, 7 Cirl Buntings, 1 Golden Plover, at least 3 Chiffchaffs, 6+ Song Thrushes, 2 Stonechats, c10+ Meadow Pipits, 2 Blackcaps and 2 female Common Scoters.

Yesterday off Mudbank - 17 Great Crested Grebes, 26 Little Egrets, 40+ Redshank, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Teal and 2 Kingfishers.

Part of a flock of c70 Curlew in Maer Valley.

Redwing - Maer Valley.

Cirl Bunting. The flock of seven is still near the slurry pit.

Lu and I went for a long walk on the commons this afternoon. A flock of 32 Tufted Ducks in Blackhill Quarry was a high local count. Too much to hope for a Pochard these days. Also there - 1 Moorhen, 1 Little Grebe and 1 Teal.

  I cycled to Topsham yesterday afternoon and stopped to have a quick look at Goosemoor. This Marsh Harrier showed brilliantly. Not a species I see very often in Exmouth, but apparently they're becoming pretty regular at the north end of the estuary.